Elsbeth Dixon

Elsbeth joined as Chief Executive of Common Purpose South Africa in 2006. She has consolidated the core Common Purpose operation in South Africa, as well as diversifying its offerings to include bespoke client projects and student leadership development.
 
In addition to heading the South African operation, Elsbeth is a member of the international Executive Team of Common Purpose. From 2012 to 2013, she headed the Global Student Team of Common Purpose, working with universities such as Harvard, Oxford, and Hong Kong University and the National University of Singapore to deliver student programmes. From 2014, her global role shifted to heading the Africa Strategy of Common Purpose.
 
Elsbeth studied for a BSc at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and subsequently completed her Master's degree and PhD in Applied Mathematics at Cambridge University, UK. She returned to South Africa in 1989 and began work at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). During her 12 years at CSIR she held many different roles. On leaving CSIR she joined Adcorp in the private sector, and ran the Technology Top 100 Awards Programme for several years. She then became co-founder of the Da Vinci Institute, a private university specializing in customized, post-graduate management and leadership education. During this period she obtained a degree in Psychology.

A qualified Participlan group process facilitator, Elsbeth also holds a Diploma in Executive and Life Coaching. She has over 20 years’ experience in facilitating group processes. She has recently worked with groups as diverse as the executive teams of Procter & Gamble and Rand Merchant Bank, senior and diverse international leadership groups, groups of students from various African countries, groups of NGO leaders in both South Africa and Libya and community leaders in rural South Africa.

Elsbeth is passionate about facilitating the learning and growth journeys of her clients, as well as contributing to the future of South Africa and the international community through enhancing the quality of its leaders.

Raised on a farm, Elsbeth was schooled in rural South Africa (Eastern Cape). She is married with three children.